PTI believes that the partnership with the United States in the war in Afghanistan was the reason for the increase in militancy and terrorism. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Friday said that it believed the government must seriously consider the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) offer of talks.
A PTI press release said the party that believed the negotiation option should never be abandoned. It remarked that the TTP offer was couched in a language that shows little prospect for forward movement. It also condemned the TTP’s use of violence and terrorism to achieve political ends.
It noted that press reports had quoted the Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and the Awami National Party expressed their preference for dialogue, rather than military operations. It said that the PTI appreciates that other parties have recognised that negotiations should never be ruled out when faced with internal insurgency. It said the PTI Chairman Imran Khan had held the same position since December 2009. It said Khan’s position was that any agreement should be within the framework of the constitution and be ratified by the parliament.
It said that the PTI has believed that the partnership with the United States in the war in Afghanistan was the reason for the increase in militancy and terrorism. It said that the alliance had provided the militants a narrative which allowed them to sell the conflict as a battle between Muslims and infidels. It said the end of the narrative would rob the militants of the weapon that had allowed them to motivate suicide bombers, who had killed almost 35,000 innocent people.
It said the TTP must have accept the constitution of Pakistan that already lays down that all laws would be in conformity with Quran and Sunnah, renounce violence as a means to achieve political ends and not use Pakistani soil to launch attacks in another country.
PPP, PML-N taken to task by PTI
Pakistan Teheek-i-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Shafqat Mahmood on Thursday downplayed the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly against Imran Khan’s statement regarding reform of the law on the seats reserved for women, saying that at least the “futile exercise” had exposed the evil nexus between Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
“We had been saying that both the PPP and the PML-N were faking fights between themselves and that both the pro-status-quo parties were hand in glove. Today’s action [Thursday’s resolution] has finally exposed this evil nexus,” said the PTI leader.
According to a press release, Mahmood added that Imran had never talked of abolishing the seats reserved for women. Rather, he said, Imran had pointed out the need for reforms in award of party tickets for women. “Imran Khan had actually shared his party’s vision about the reserved seats for women, making a categorical statement that the PTI favoured intra-party elections to award party tickets to women so that relatives of the influential were not automatically awarded party tickets and women from the grassroots could come forward and work for the empowerment of women,” Mahmood said.
Mahmood said both PPP and PML-N leaders wanted relatives of their influential leaders to be accommodated at the expense of women from the grassroots. “This evil nexus is actually not against the PTI, rather it is against the people of Pakistan and to maintain the status quo. Such exercises would never defeat the resolve of the PTI workers for a change in the country. The change would take place despite all conspiracies to stop it,” Mahmood added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2013.
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there are indicators that he is going back. is it true?
these type of politician dont want peaceful pakistan. talking/working with taliban is exactly to be with taliban. Army is the best option for Pakistan, so we could walk freely in Pakistan weather its phatan, shia, sunni, and what so ever. Pakistan needs army very badly or atleast to fight with TTP.
"A recent RAND research effort sheds light on this issue by investigating how terrorist groups have ended in the past. By analyzing a comprehensive roster of terrorist groups that existed worldwide between 1968 and 2006, the authors found that most groups ended because of operations carried out by local police or intelligence agencies or because they negotiated a settlement with their governments. Military force was rarely the primary reason a terrorist group ended, and few groups within this time frame achieved victory.
These findings suggest that the U.S. approach to countering al Qa'ida has focused far too much on the use of military force. Instead, policing and intelligence should be the backbone of U.S. efforts."
You can read the full report here. http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9351/index1.html
The pti leadership, supporters, sympathisers should start preparing excuses to explain the debacle that is coming their way in three months. They will be jolted out of their individual and collective delusions and will face reality.
Supporter of PTI but dont support this policy of theirs.
It is quite astonishing to see such a statement from IK coming now on 05 January 2013, when our 21 levies out of 23 (less than 10 days) have been executed, 7 teachers shot dead in Swabi (01 January 2013), Social workers who are helping our children cope with their health and well-being being killed (less than 10 days) and more going on as indicated by Aviator above. This will only add fuel to the fire in the memories of the families who have lost their loved ones to TTP as claimed.
An important point which was not given enough emphasis in this article is that PTI is also presenting a framework for any talks which is quite reasonable and I find it hard to imagine anyone would have problems with the same:
The possible negotiations with the TTP must have at its core a three point agenda. 1) Militants would accept the constitution of Pakistan that already lays down that all laws would be in conformity with Quran and Sunnah. 2) They would renounce violence as a means to achieve their political ends. 3) They will not use Pakistan soil to launch attacks on a foreign soil. If this is made the basis of talks it is possible to move forward.
For all IK lovers who can't stand any criticism of their great leader, watch and listen carefully to the questions Talat Husain asks Imran Khan about TTP on his show. Intelligent Pakistanis, whom IK calls liberal fascists ask the same questions.
All those who are talking about dialogues Just to give u guys few examples of recent past 1. How did Srilankans control suicide bombings and terrorism? Obviously major military operation. 2. How did Indians control Sikh insurgency? Decisive Operation including operation blue star. 3. How did Britain treat IRA. Black Friday 5. how did Indians control insurgency in Kashmir? 90000 ppl are still missing. All those who are still talking about dialogues are requested to pls have mercy on on poor citizens of Pakistan. Imran khan should try coaching young fast bowlers instead of talking about statesmanship. I have worked in FATA and KP and I can assure u that operation in North Wazirastan is simpler than in Swat. Good Luck.
@Humble Pie: again i will say that pointing fingers is very easy please give solution it's been 8 years now since we are fighting this war and nothing good has happened the situation has become worse than ever before
@Hammad: Pakistan's liberals are unquie in the world that they prefer fighting over negotiations.Also unique that they support west and US blindly. In all developed conutries you will be called a neo con.
There are people in the media besides some internauts who intentionally misinterpret IK's statements to develop confusion among people. One thing is very clear: Imran Khan is not a supporter or sympathizer of talibans but he wants only negotiation with them. Secondly IK statement about women reserved seats in Parliament. Every one of us should appreciate him for his capacity of identifying the real problems in our System whether it is patwair, tahana culture problem or women reserved seats. The story does not end here, he proposes solution as well.
So called liberal Pakis are so keen on fighting this nonsense. How can they be so dumb to prefer fighting over negotiations after knowing that fighting the talibans produced zero results in 10+ years and even the most powerful armies are pushing for negotiations on the international level. When the world has invited Talibs to Paris, Brussels, Qatar etc for negotiations, the mighty pakis still want to fight. They think they are more powerful and resourceful than NATO/US combined. It tells you that we as a nation are derived by emotions not tactics when it comes to strategic thinking and decision making.
Lets negotiate and end this madness.
If the PTI makes so many blunders before coming into office..............God only knows what they will do once in office.
@Mirza
1st am not at in all in favor of talks with TTP. But ANP and PPP saying the same thing now, so progressive either are uninformed or are progressive by name (which they are in pak)
All those who are against Imran khan stand about Taliban, what are your alternative plans to finish the war? The once feared IRA terrorists are government ministers in Northern Ireland in the UK. Same terrorists who were involved in terrorist plots against queen are officially and publicly welcoming her to Ireland. How did that happen? Think.
@Rommel: Your comment displays your sick and childish mentality..
I don't understand when so many peace talks had failed why are still PTI adamant that there should be more peace talks. Swat Operation is the best example of dialogue before action.
For sake of assumption even if I accept the flawed theory of good and bad taliban, then there are 2 cases here:
a) TTP are good Taliban. They recently accepted attack on Bashir Bilour and killing 22 FC personnel. TTP are also supposed to be CIA agents. Are they still good Taliban ? If yes, Good bless us.
b) TTP are bad Taliban. What is the excitement of the dialogue offer from them then ?
Surely PTI seems a confused party on this.
The main reason many progressive would not vote for IK is his closeness with Taliban. Otherwise there would be no votes for PML-N in IK's presence. In the next elections many statements of IK would be played against him. By showing sympathy with the killers of Pakistani civilians (no other force has killed more than 40 thousand Pakistanis) IK is not doing his supporters any favors. By being soft on TTP and terrorists he is trying to prove he is not a establishment man because he is more extreme than they are. Not a positive way of doing politics.
US is negotiating with Talibans and even pressurised Pakistan to release Taliban prisoners. But when Pakistan discuss about negotiations with TTP, the so called liberals become upset. Hypocrites
PTI is loosing because their support for TTP and its allies.
So if they put down their weapons, which they have already said they wont, then it means we ll be sitting with killers of tens of thousands of Pakistani innocents who were killed by TTP bcoz the government which we all know does nt represent these killed pakistanis anyway. Dear IK, i just cant fathom this argument. May be i am too thick or may be i am much more honorable and foresighted to see the shortcomings of your suggestions?
I was strong supporter of Imran. After this suggestion, I hate him.
For all you PTI haters- what is the alternative? We have been at war with these thugs for the last 10 years and they are still active. If the US and NATO can't topple them in Afghanistan after a decade of trying then you have to realize that fighting is not a viable option.
huge supporter of imran khan but he needs to re-evaluate his policies on TTP. Taliban are nothing but a bunch of thugs, marauders and psychopaths.
Negotiations will result in similar situation as in Swat before the operation.
East and West, PTI is best.
Actually, the TTP have been waging a war on pakistan against:
Childrens education, particularly girls education Polio immunisation Religious minorities Democracy
It seems that the Imran Khan has a real soft spot for the TTP, if so he should come out and openly declare his support for their ideology, rather than hiding behind apologies and excuses for them.
@Hammad: If you have been following the news trail recently...army establishment / ISI is not in favor of negotiations with Taliban...so let me also go out on the limb and say that those who think IK is an 'ISI stooge' are either uninformed or biased.
I have never seen "It said" repeated so many times in a single article!
EIther Imran Khan is an ISI stooge that doesn't want to fight its strategic assets, or he is unbelievably naive. It can't be anything else. God save Pakistan from both.